Your favourite daily sweeps media awards

THE National newspaper dominated the 3rd Media Council of Papua New Guinea 2009 awards night on Tuesday, with its journalists receiving 12 awards in the various print and online media categories.
The awards were in recognition of the efforts of individual journalists in their respective areas of reporting, who bring vital information across to readers from the length and breadth of the country.
The awards were presented at a gala dinner at the Grand Palace Restaurant.
Senior journalist Isaac Nicholas was awarded the political reporter of the year award for consistently reporting on various political issues in the country, while Julia Daia Bore was adjudged best court reporter for consistently covering the National and Supreme courts and the hearings of the Commission of Inquiry into the Finance Department.
Andrew Alphonse bagged the regional reporter of the year award.
Wallace Kiala received a commendation for his coverage of the swine flu epidemic, while Kari Totona received an award for her coverage of education issues during the year.
Patrick Talu won the gong for environmental sustainability and climate change reporter of the year for his consistent writing on the hot-button global issue, while Sheila Lasibori received the award for business reporter of the year.
Intrepid journalist Yehiura Hriehwazi, who is currently overseas on family matters, was named investigative reporter of the year for his coverage of irregularities in the Civil Aviation Authority, which raised extensive debate on the safety of PNG’s airline industry.
From the sports desk, Henry Morabang was named the best sports reporter of the year for the second time this year, after winning the same award in the SP Sports Awards.
Young journalist Bosorina Robby was awarded the rookie reporter of the year for her coverage on HIV/AIDS and humanitarian issues and her continuous improvement as a journalist during her first year on the job.
The National also collected the awards for the best website of the year, while the best blog of the year went to Malum Nalu, The National’s supplements editor.
Meanwhile, the best feature reporter of the year was awarded to James Kila and best photographer went to Andrew Molen, both from the Wantok Niuspepa.
For radio media in the same categories, the political reporter of the year went to Aaron English (NBC), court reporter of the year to Denise Ray (NBC), health reporter of the year to Toa Sime, education reporter of the year to Dora Gawi (FM100), environment reporter of the year to Joyce Sabbath (NBC), business reporter of the year to Glenda Popot (FM100).
The awards were sponsored by AusAID, the National Gaming Control Board, Digicel, the Mineral Resources Authority, Daltron, Law and Justice Sector, UN, the PNG Independent Media Standards Committee, Ela Motors, British American Tobacco and the Worldwide Fund for Nature.